Lacey Turner has been confirmed as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, kicking off the show’s line-up for the new series. The EastEnders star was revealed on Wednesday 10 June through @bbcstrictly’s official social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
The timing matters because Strictly Come Dancing is due back on One and iPlayer in September, and the first name out of the gate gives viewers their first real glimpse of who may be heading for the dance floor. Turner, who is best known for playing Stacey Slater on EastEnders, joined the soap in 2004 and has since won multiple awards for her work there, including several British Soap Awards and National Television Awards.
She has also built a career beyond Walford, with stage roles and television dramas that include the lead in drama Our Girl. But this announcement lands differently for her because she is not coming to Strictly as a casual viewer. Turner said she is “so excited” to be making her way to the dance floor, said she is a huge fan and “can’t quite believe” she will be taking part rather than watching at home, and added that she looks forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill.
That is the small twist that gives the reveal its edge: one of the show’s biggest fans is now stepping into the cast herself. More celebrity names are expected to be unveiled throughout the summer, and the rest of the line-up will shape whether this year’s series begins with a familiar television face or with a broader mix of stars when September arrives.
Strictly Come Dancing is a Studios Entertainment production for One and iPlayer, and Turner’s confirmation starts the public countdown to the 2026 run. For viewers waiting to see who else joins her, the summer rollout has begun, and the first reveal has already done its job.
